Current:Home > NewsWhat is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record -Momentum Wealth Path
What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record
View
Date:2025-04-17 04:54:03
No pressure, it's just perfection.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have raced out to a perfect 13-0 mark this season under new coach Kenny Atkinson, becoming the sixth team in NBA history to win their first 13 games of the season. The Cavaliers are the NBA's second-rated offense (120.9) and most accurate 3-point shooting team (41.2%). Cleveland ranks second in point differential (11.7), behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (12.7).
Yet, the Cavaliers are nowhere near the NBA's most prolific start, with five teams still ahead. The good news for Cleveland is that of the five previous teams that won their first 13 games to start a regular season, four made it to the NBA Finals.
Here's everything you need to know about the best starts in NBA history.
What is the record for best start in NBA history?
The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, the team that went on to set the record for most regular season victories in a single season (73), also set the mark for best start to a season in NBA history.
All things Cavaliers: Latest Cleveland Cavaliers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
The Warriors opened their season 24-0 before picking up their first loss of that season on Dec. 12 against the Bucks. It obliterated the previous NBA record for best start to a season, when the 1993-94 Houston Rockets went 15-0.
Interestingly, it wasn't coach Steve Kerr who led the team to that remarkable start. Kerr underwent back surgery and was sidelined for the first 43 games of the season. Assistant coach Luke Walton served as the interim coach and led Golden State to that 24-0 start and eventually led the team to a 39-4 mark before Kerr returned.
The 2015-16 Warriors lost in the NBA Finals in seven games to the Cavaliers.
Where do the Cavaliers rank in best starts in NBA history?
- 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (lost NBA Finals): 24-0
- 1993-94 Houston Rockets (won NBA Finals): 15-0
- 1948-49 Washington Capitols (lost NBA Finals): 15-0
- 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks (lost Western Conference Finals): 14-0
- 1957-58 Boston Celtics (lost NBA Finals): 14-0
- 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers: 13-0
- 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (won NBA Finals): 12-0
- 1982-83 Seattle SuperSonics (lost first-round series): 12-0
Cleveland Cavaliers upcoming schedule
- Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Chicago Bulls
- Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at Boston Celtics
- Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Toronto Raptors
- Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Atlanta Hawks
- Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. vs. Boston Celtics
- Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. vs. Washington Wizards
- Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. vs. Denver Nuggets
- Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Charlotte Hornets
- Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at Miami Heat
*All times Eastern
veryGood! (96)
Related
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Justice Department reverses position, won't support shielding Trump in original E. Jean Carroll lawsuit
- Larry Nassar was stabbed after making a lewd comment watching Wimbledon, source says
- With COVID lockdowns lifted, China says it's back in business. But it's not so easy
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Tom Cruise's stunts in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One presented new challenges, director says
- A 20-year-old soldier from Boston went missing in action during World War II. 8 decades later, his remains have been identified.
- Two U.S. Oil Companies Join Their European Counterparts in Making Net-Zero Pledges
- Average rate on 30
- A recession might be coming. Here's what it could look like
Ranking
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Brody Jenner and Tia Blanco Are Engaged 5 Months After Announcing Pregnancy
- The Repercussions of a Changing Climate, in 5 Devastating Charts
- Tesla's profits soared to a record – but challenges are mounting
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Kourtney Kardashian Has a Rockin' Family Night Out at Travis Barker's Concert After Pregnancy Reveal
- Craft beer pioneer Anchor Brewing to close after 127 years
- A recession might be coming. Here's what it could look like
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Thom Browne's win against Adidas is also one for independent designers, he says
Warming Trends: Couples Disconnected in Their Climate Concerns Can Learn About Global Warming Over 200 Years or in 18 Holes
Do Leaked Climate Reports Help or Hurt Public Understanding of Global Warming?
Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
Norovirus outbreaks surging on cruise ships this year
Want a balanced federal budget? It'll cost you.
Read Jennifer Garner's Rare Public Shout-Out to Ex Ben Affleck